Lucerne Cantonal Hospital introduces AI shift planning with Polypoint and Microsoft
Lucerne Cantonal Hospital (LUKS) is one of the first hospitals in Switzerland to introduce a new planning app for employees that is seamlessly integrated into an AI-controlled shift planning system, making it a pioneer in the field.
In collaboration with Polypoint and Microsoft Switzerland, Luks is introducing automated duty scheduling. The aim is to significantly reduce planning effort, create more time for core tasks and increase employee satisfaction. Following successful pilot tests, the automated planning system is to be introduced at LUKS in the first half of 2024.
Shift planning in hospitals is a demanding and time-consuming process in which both staff requirements and employee preferences must be carefully considered. In order to make this complex planning process more efficient and increase employee satisfaction by taking better account of preferences, LUKS is introducing an AI-driven, automated planning system: A new Microsoft Teams 365 app is integrated, which encourages active employee participation: Employees enter their shift preferences into the new Microsoft Teams app, which then feeds the information directly into the AI in the Polypoint backend and creates draft schedules.
Increase in productivity and employee satisfaction
The pilot test has shown that the use of the Teams App has reduced the planning effort by two thirds, freeing up resources for the staff's core tasks, which benefits patients. Supervisors find this a valuable tool that significantly reduces their workload.
During the test phase, LUKS recorded fewer change requests, more positive feedback from employees and was pleased with the great potential of automated planning. It was therefore crucial for LUKS to continue using and expanding the AI-controlled planning system after the pilot phase.
The LUKS project, with AI-driven automated duty scheduling, demonstrates a commitment to technology as a means for positive change that addresses healthcare challenges and makes a constructive contribution to the Swiss healthcare system. The hospital is establishing itself as a pioneer in efficiency, employee satisfaction and collaborative innovation. The new planning process was successfully tested in pilot phases in selected care departments. Based on the positive results, a gradual introduction in all nursing departments is planned from mid-2024 and a comprehensive implementation at all LUKS Group sites by 2026.
Source: www.microsoft.com
